Grassroots Gathering report

by maalox - grassroots belfast decentralised head counting affinity group Wed Oct 30, 2002 16:18 maalox at safe-mail dot net

We had 120 programs printed up (which we ran out of on the first day), but according to a few of us who were handling registration etc. we closed with 98, and then four more people arrived. If you count the DJs and their friends, and people's children the number goes up to 111, and counting dogs, 117.

But anyway, everything went as well as could be expected and people were particularly pleased with the gender workshop, the arrest workshop and the food. The critical mass was the best Belfast has yet had, and the Food not Bombs stall was a big hit with the people involved. For more information, or to get involved contact fnbbelfast@cheerful.com or come along on Thursday nights outside Tesco's for free soup, bread and peace propaganda.

A lot of ambitious and positive ideas came out of this gathering, and everyone left feeling really, really upbeat. I mean, some of these ideas would have been laughable even a year ago. Everyone involved in grassroots organising seems to have raised their expectations of themselves recently, and we've started living up to them in style.

by Eve Wed Oct 30, 2002 17:24

it was execellent-we had loads of workshops on issues from forest gardening and anti-war actions to The P.G.A. and gender issues.

On monday there we had a food not bombs action in the city where we gave out free veggie soup and anti war flyers. There was also some cool street theatre involving a peace fairy, loads of dead people and an evil capitalist(played execellently by tim)!

Anyway the main thing i just wanted to let people know is that a Shannon peace demo has been called for sunday the 8th of december at Shannon. there will be more info about this nearer the time.

there is also some form of peace camp being set up soon as far as i know if anyone has the details on that....

by hydra Wed Oct 30, 2002 19:48

I have to say that it feels wonderfully weird to hear the gathering was so well attended. A couple of years ago, such a meeting was just inconceivable. I hope there'll be lots more reports posted so as to get a clearer view of the different discussions and practical projects for action.

Otherwise I'm curious to hear if there was any discussion about the European Social Forum/Disobedients/Euraction Hub taking place next week in Florence. Is anyone planning on making the trip, or will the island's representation to the usual trot dogma-machines?

You can find more info about the hub at the URLs below:
http://www.inventati.org/hub/
and
http://www.inventati.org/hub/calendar/

cheers,
h.